5 Best Postnatal Vitamins for Breastfeeding Moms in 2023

The phase of motherhood is filled with both joy and plenty of sacrifice from your body. Breastfeeding is another important phase, a phase that can be exciting and worrisome at the same time. 

You wonder, can I produce what my baby needs? Am I eating enough to be nourished? What can I do to improve my chances of giving my baby everything they need through breastfeeding?

If you ask yourself these questions, you are not alone. Many moms, including health professionals, feel unsure if what they eat is enough or if they are providing their babies with the necessary nutrients. 

Guess what? You can definitely provide your infant with the nutrients she needs through breastfeeding^[1], as the body is made to do this. You can consider using postnatal supplements to help you obtain all the nutrients your body needs to make breast milk. Read on for the five best postnatal vitamins. 

Prenatal vs. Postnatal Vitamins: What’s The Difference?

The moment you realize you are expecting, the first thing your doctor will say is to start taking a prenatal daily vitamin with folic acid and follow a healthy diet. This is to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus and help with the nervous system and brain development. 

An essential nutrient is often obtained from a variety of foods, but during pregnancy, these nutrients can be quickly depleted. That is because a pregnancy uses up a lot of nutrients^[2], including any nutrient stores. 

The reality is that following a healthy diet is the best way to get the key nutrients your body needs during pregnancy. Although, sometimes, a pregnancy asks so much of your body that your nutritional needs, through your diet^[3] alone, may not be enough. 

A pregnant woman needs important nutrients, including folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B complex^[4]. These nutrients are also important if you plan to get pregnant, so you should even start taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. 

Prenatal vitamins are not just for when you are pregnant but can be taken in preparation for becoming pregnant. It’s even advised to start taking a prenatal vitamin if you are of childbearing years. 

But postpartum mothers need other types of vitamins to help support milk production, help with baby blues, and recover from hair loss. These include the vitamins B complex–B1, B2, B6, and B12; vitamin D, choline, iodine, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)^[5].

Taking prenatal and postnatal vitamins can help you get an overall consistent amount of key vitamins that can meet nutritional needs during pregnancy and after the transition between the two. 

How Co Choose The Best Postnatal Vitamin

When choosing the best postnatal supplement for you, it’s not as simple as choosing the first one you find or the most expensive one. Choose the postnatal supplement that fits your specific situation and needs. 

Your needs can be increased for essential nutrients due to complications during birth, not taking enough prenatal vitamins, getting baby blues, improving milk supply, increasing iron intake, or just seeking health balance. 

Price 

The price ranges from $35 – $50; the reason for the price differences can be related to the number of ingredients or quality of them. If there are concerns about budget constraints, there are budget-friendly postnatal vitamin supplements as low as $35 and possible additional discounts. 

One particular manufacturer, Mary Ruth’s, can provide financial support. Most manufacturers will have some type of discount through newsletter sign-ups or subscriptions. 

Third-Party Tested

Postnatal vitamins are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)^[6]. Therefore some manufacturing companies do third-party testing on their own. This assures them that what they make is accurate and of good quality and provides their customers with a sense of trust. 

The most commonly used third-party companies are USP (United States Pharmacopeia), NSF International (National Sanitation Foundation), and ConsumerLabs.com. When looking into a company with third-party testing, look for the reports. Manufacturers that truly use third-party testing will be willing to share the results on their websites. 

Type Of Supplement

You can get the supplement as postnatal gummy vitamins, capsules, soft gel, or liquid form. This is important because some capsules may be too big, especially if swallowing pills is not your thing. 

But you may get nauseated by the gummy vitamins or not like the aftertaste of liquid form. So it’s important to know your preference. 

5 Best Postnatal Vitamins for Breastfeeding Moms In 2023

How To Take Postnatal Vitamins Properly?

When Should You Take Postnatal Vitamins?

Postnatal vitamins are all unique in ingredients; therefore, the time of day, amount, and if it’s to be taken with or without food should be as instructed by the manufacturing company.  

Most of the time, you will need to take the supplement in the morning and with food, but this varies, and it’s best to follow the advice of the supplement label.

How Long Should You Take Postnatal Vitamins?

The postpartum period is from the mother giving birth up until six months. You can take postnatal vitamins during that postnatal period. Although, if you have been breastfeeding beyond six months, you can take post-natal vitamins longer. 

What Nutrients Are Important For Breastfeeding Moms?

When you start taking postnatal vitamins, choosing a daily supplement should be based on having a combination of vitamins and minerals. Many supplements contain vitamin B complex, B1, B2, B6, and B12, vitamin D, choline, iodine, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)^[5]. 

These nutrients are important to help mothers with milk production and hair loss and obtain enough vitamin D to keep healthy vitamin D levels. 

These extra vitamins and minerals, of course, can be found in food, but sometimes you may be too busy or tired to remember to eat a well-balanced diet. Therefore, a daily vitamin can help you get through. 

Final Thought

When considering supplementing for your postnatal period, consider your personal situation–mainly, if you will be breastfeeding or not; this can make the difference in the type of postnatal vitamins you choose. This matters mainly because a breastfeeding mom needs additional nutrients to support breastfeeding. 

If there is any moment you should supplement, it should be during pregnancy with prenatal vitamins and the postpartum period with postnatal vitamins. 

Frequently, women experience hair loss and postpartum depression and need additional nutrients for a healthy postpartum recovery. 

If you experience postpartum hair loss or postpartum depression, which can affect how you feel, make sure you discuss it with your healthcare provider for additional support. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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